Budget Padding: "It is NOT An Offence," According To Dogara

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In an interview with State House Correspondent, the House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara said budget padding is not an offence.



The speaker made this public yesterday after meeting with Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock in Abuja.

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What informed your visit?

Dogara: Can’t I come and see my President? Do I need any reason to come and see my President? It’s a private visit.

Was the issue of alleged budget padding discussed?

Dogara: What is budget padding?

The language emanated from your chambers

Dogara: I don’t know, educate me. I am a lawyer and speaker and I have never heard of the word padding. What does padding mean?

The former chairman of the Appropriation Committee said you padded the budget

Dogara: Ask him. He who alleges must prove. That’s the law in Nigeria

Are you not going to defend yourself?

Dogara: Am I before a court?

There are people saying you should reconvene the House before the September resumption time and step aside for a thorough investigation

Dogara: We have rules and regulations. This is not a mock institution, we operate by the rules and we will follow the rules.

Will you resign?

Dogara: Resign for what?

These allegations.

Dogara: What are the allegations?

That you and some members of the leadership padded the budget.

Dogara: What is padding? You haven’t told me. Ask Jibrin what is padding. I studied law and I have been in the legislature and all this period I have never heard of the word padding being an offence under any law. If I don’t know, you are the media, research the law and let me know.

Are you worried?

Dogara: Worried for what? Worried over nothing, why should I be worried? As far as I am concerned I’m not worried about anything.

Will there be sanctions for Jibrin? 

Dogara: I am not the chairman of the Ethics Committee of the House, so I wouldn’t know and I don’t know what padding means.

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